Old bike share program flopped, new one aims to be different

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BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) -- Many of you remember Boise's bike share program from the mid 1990s, when old, yellow bikes were scattered across town for anyone to use.

The director of a new bike share program where anyone can check out bikes, ride them around, then return them hopes it is more successful.

"(The old program) failed for a number of reasons, but the primary reason was because these were bikes that were left unlocked and unattended downtown Boise for anyone to take or leave wherever they wanted, so there was no accountability," Fotsch said.

Dave Fotsch, Bike Share project director, says this one will be a lot different.

There will be dozens of bike rack stations around town for you to check-out the bikes. But what's different, is that you don't have to return the bike to a station, instead cyclists can leave them at any ordinary bike rack in the city. Each bike will have a GPS system to track the bikes, and crews will go around to pick them up, or an app will direct you to the nearest bike.

"Our system really allows you to lock the bike anywhere, so it gives you greater freedom where you ride and lock the bike up," Fotsch said.

The GPS also makes sure no one steals the bikes.

"You get a big fat bill on your credit card (if you steal a bike)," Fotsch said. "There's a replacement fee of $1,200, so return the bike."